Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah Denies Threatening to Burn Singha Durbar in Commission Testimony

Kathmandu. Former Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) stated in his testimony before the Janata Janardan (Zenji) Movement Investigation Commission that he did not use the phrase "I will burn down Singha Durbar."

Furthermore, he clarified that he was at his official residence in Lainchaur on August 23 and 24, and while he supported the peaceful rally on the 23rd, he was not part of the protest itself.

“I learned from the media when the situation became tense on the 23rd,” Shah stated in his testimony. “The Metropolitan Police Force distributed water after requests from business owners and restaurants.”

He also mentioned that he appealed on social media for restraint to protect public and private property during the unrest and coordinated with the Metropolitan Police Force and other departments to assist the injured and deceased following the incident.

“The incident on the 24th was tragic and could be the result of excessive use of force and terrorist-style tactics by the government on the 23rd,” Balen said in his testimony. “The KMC sent the fire truck on time on the 24th.”

He asserted that the then-government engaged in criminal and terrorist activities, and that the then-government and participating parties should be held responsible for all damages.

In a report obtained by Ratopati courtesy of Janastha, Shah claimed that although he expressed himself metaphorically on Facebook in protest after the vehicle carrying Kathmandu Metropolitan City's garbage was unnecessarily stopped on its way to Banchare Danda, the word “I will burn it down” was not used.